Attendance at type 2 diabetes self-management interventions is associated with improved outcomes. However, difficulties maintaining self-management behaviours attenuate long-term impact. This review aimed to identify and synthesise qualitative research on barriers and enablers to maintaining type 2 diabetes self-management behaviours after attending a self-management intervention. Eight electronic databases were searched to identify relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature studies. Data were synthesised using the best-fit framework synthesis approach guided by the themes and constructs identified by Kwasnicka et al. (2016) on their review of theoretical explanations for behaviour change maintenance. Study methodological limitations and confidence in findings were assessed using an adapted version of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool and the GRADE-CERQual approach respectively. Eleven articles reporting on 10 studies were included. Twenty-eight barriers and enablers were coded to the a priori themes. Barriers were commonly coded to the themes self-regulation, resources, and environmental and social influences. Enablers were commonly coded to the themes habits and maintenance motives. Methodological limitations of included studies varied, leading to moderate or low confidence in most findings. Interventions may improve behavioural maintenance by providing post-intervention support, promoting positive behaviour change motives, self-regulation, habit formation, and facilitating access to resources and support.
Keywords: Type 2 diabetes; behaviour maintenance; qualitative evidence synthesis; self-management; self-management support interventions; sustained behaviour change.